Keeping Up with the McKinnonshttp://examiner-enterprise.com/rss.xml/446
enMercy makes ‘spirit free’http://examiner-enterprise.com/keeping-mckinnons/mercy-makes-spirit-free
I was 3 years old when the doctor told my mother that he thought tranquilizers would help control the levels of anxiety I was experiencing. Mom was only 23 and had six children at home, ranging from newborn to 15 years old. She was young and figuring out things as she went. It was probably from her deep faith in God that she found the strength and determination to tell the doctor that she thought she could manage our home in a way that would help me de-stress and be okay so that I wouldn’t have to be medicated.Wed, 22 Jul 2015 17:07:18 +0000287051 at http://examiner-enterprise.comStop and smell the roseshttp://examiner-enterprise.com/keeping-mckinnons/stop-and-smell-roses
This past weekend we were in Minnesota celebrating Andrina’s first birthday, and what a wonderful time we had! After such a difficult spring with illnesses of family members, it was refreshing to get her hugs and watch her toddle around. My mom told me that grandchildren are the best, and she was right!Wed, 08 Jul 2015 17:11:06 +0000284256 at http://examiner-enterprise.comStay connectedhttp://examiner-enterprise.com/keeping-mckinnons/stay-connected
This past weekend, we were in Kansas City celebrating Father’s Day by Mark going to two Red Sox games. It was our chance to recharge after spending the last year of what felt like being on full-speed-ahead mode, and what a year it has been.Wed, 24 Jun 2015 17:06:16 +0000281261 at http://examiner-enterprise.comLife made up of ordinary, wonderful momentshttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/life-made-ordinary-wonderful-moments
Shauna and Steven’s wedding weekend was a wonderful thing. It was filled with memory-making moments, meaningful words and gestures, and most of all friends and family who love them both.Wed, 10 Jun 2015 17:09:39 +0000278336 at http://examiner-enterprise.comBest is yet to comehttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/best-yet-come
This Saturday, Shauna and Steven say, “I do.” It is the beginning of their journey as a married couple and we couldn’t be happier for them. They will be surrounded by friends and family who love them, and I’m sure there won’t be a dry eye in the room.Wed, 27 May 2015 17:13:14 +0000275346 at http://examiner-enterprise.comKey to joy is thankfulnesshttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/key-joy-thankfulness
Have you ever been through a very difficult time and it is hard to see past the pain? Then, as time goes by, you find yourself looking for the good around you so that you can feel peace again?Wed, 13 May 2015 17:10:14 +0000272286 at http://examiner-enterprise.comChoose positivehttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/choose-positive
Have you ever heard the saying when it rains, it pours? That has been the story of our lives the last month. Mark and I had just come from two weeks of helping my parents when Lance, Missy and Andi came for a visit. We were so excited to see them. Who could have known that Missy would have to have emergency surgery to remove her gall bladder just days after arriving?Wed, 29 Apr 2015 17:07:00 +0000268791 at http://examiner-enterprise.comFinding joy in the journeyhttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/finding-joy-journey
The last two weeks have been grueling for my family. My dad had a procedure done on his back and, though the surgeon promised quick results, he developed delirium from the anesthesia. Unfortunately, we had no idea this can be a common side effect for elderly patients. Frankly, we would have chosen a different course of treatment for him had we known the path we were headed down.Wed, 15 Apr 2015 17:07:08 +0000265381 at http://examiner-enterprise.comThis moment right herehttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/moment-right-here
There are times in life when you need to pause, take a breath and just enjoy the moment you are in. Saturday night, we celebrated Shauna and Steven’s engagement with a backyard party and, though it took an enormous amount of effort to make it happen, it was worth it.Wed, 01 Apr 2015 17:13:04 +0000262306 at http://examiner-enterprise.comAll types of friendships necessary — sandpaper and velvethttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/all-types-friendships-necessary-sandpaper-and-velvet
Friendships are an important part of life. They enhance our overall enjoyment and one study suggests that friendship can increase life expectancy by 22 percent. No matter our social status or age, we all have the need to love and be loved and friends are a way that happens.Wed, 18 Mar 2015 17:07:40 +0000258881 at http://examiner-enterprise.comRemember to plant seeds of thankfulnesshttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/remember-plant-seeds-thankfulness
When a dream comes true in your life, do you stop and savor the moment and mark it with thankfulness in your heart? Mark and I had the opportunity to minister twice on marriage in February. My passion is seeing relationships be the best they can be, and to speak with my husband who is my best friend and share some of our story was the fulfillment of a dream of mine.Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:13:28 +0000255756 at http://examiner-enterprise.comSpeaking from the heart gives clarityhttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/speaking-heart-gives-clarity
February is the month of love — or in our case in the past — the month of disappointments and disagreements. How can a simple holiday, designed to celebrate love, turn into such a failure year after year? I remember dreading February and wishing that Feb. 14 would just pass us by.Wed, 18 Feb 2015 18:06:33 +0000252581 at http://examiner-enterprise.comLearning how to communicate takes timehttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/learning-how-communicate-takes-time
Mark is a huge New England Patriots fan, so Sunday was a fabulous day for him. While we watched the Super Bowl with friends, I remembered a time when I wouldn’t have sat and enjoyed the game with him, but would have been seething because he was caught up in another football game. Mark has always been a sports fanatic and football is hands-down one of his favorites.Wed, 04 Feb 2015 18:06:00 +0000249201 at http://examiner-enterprise.comLife is what we make ithttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/life-what-we-make-it
Have you ever wondered if there was something bigger for you to accomplish, or you could be someone more than you currently are? Our pastor, Scott Turner, has been teaching a series called, “Made for More” and it has challenged me in my thinking and has made me ask myself the question, “What else is out there for me?” Our daughter’s fiancé, Steven, has a wonderful story of what can happen when we embrace the idea that there can be more in our lives.Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:13:05 +0000246211 at http://examiner-enterprise.comChristmas: It’s the most wonderful time of the yearhttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/christmas-it-s-most-wonderful-time-year
I love the idea that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Each year, I try to make it the perfect holiday for the ones I love, but honestly, it is an exhausting task! Sometimes I think it is too much work and want to take a break from it all. What I need to remember is that the gifts and all the trappings of the holiday are secondary to spending time with the people that we love.Wed, 24 Dec 2014 18:08:07 +0000239996 at http://examiner-enterprise.comFocus on thankfulnesshttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/focus-thankfulness
I have always tried to be a thankful person — sometimes I succeed and sometimes it’s a struggle. I am thankful for many things this year, yet I still think of things that I wish were different in my life. I think we all fight being discontent at one point or another.Wed, 26 Nov 2014 18:09:51 +0000234401 at http://examiner-enterprise.comBest marriages built on teamworkhttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/best-marriages-built-teamwork
It’s been 30 years since Mark and I said, “I do” and the adventure began. We were dreamers, looking towards our future with anticipation and optimism. Boy, did we have a lot to learn!Wed, 12 Nov 2014 18:10:14 +0000231436 at http://examiner-enterprise.comSister-in-law’s lesson: Family is everythinghttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/sister-law-s-lesson-family-everything
I have the pleasure of having five sister-in-laws. The older I get, the more I appreciate them. They are a lot like me — we work hard and love our families dearly. When they have stuff going on in their lives, I care about it, just like they care about me when I have stuff going on in mine.Wed, 29 Oct 2014 17:12:19 +0000228511 at http://examiner-enterprise.comHonoring parents a musthttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/honoring-parents-must
October is always a busy month for us with Missy, Shauna and Lance’s birthdays, each two days apart. It is filled with present-buying, cake-eating, and “Happy Birthday” singing! This year, though, a new meaning was added for Mark. October for him will be remembered as the month that he and his mom took their stroll down memory lane together.Wed, 15 Oct 2014 17:06:00 +0000225206 at http://examiner-enterprise.comStaying in love takes workhttp://examiner-enterprise.com/denise-mckinnon/staying-love-takes-work
This past weekend Mark and I decided to take a quick trip to Branson. The jobs that Mark has had have been the kind that he is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our date nights and little getaways have keep our marriage grounded and Mark and I connected. Some of the best times we’ve had are when we’ve unplugged from the world and just been together.Wed, 01 Oct 2014 17:07:21 +0000222181 at http://examiner-enterprise.com